What’s the first thing that comes to your mind when someone says “social media”? We suppose it is one of these platforms – Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, etc.
Social media has genuinely evolved the way we function. Where you once had to purchase extra credits to make a long-distance call, today all you need to do is send that someone a private message on any social networking site.
Believe it or not, social media will only get better with time. In other words, you can expect newer apps, such as Threads, which was launched a few days ago. That said, you do need a reliable internet connection when using social media platforms.
If you are on the hunt for a new internet plan, you will be amazed at Xfinity Internet speed. There are both positive and negative ways in which social media has impacted our lives. Thus, in this article, we will share the various ways social media has had an impact on us.
Let’s begin!
Story Stages
Positive Impact of Social Media
There are some obvious positive impacts of social media in our lives. In fact, many people feel that social media only impacts our lives in a negative way, but that’s not true.
Here are some positive ways in which social media has impacted our lives:
Connecting with Others and Keeping in Touch
Social media can make it simple to find communities of individuals who share your interests or meet new people. Finding a group of supportive friends can do wonders for our sense of belonging and self-worth.
The use of social media makes it simple to keep in touch with long-distance friends and relatives. Stay in touch by sending messages, sharing images, making phone calls, or hosting video chats.
In addition to maintaining existing relationships, social media allows you to make new ones. It’s simple to connect with and share information with people anywhere in the world. The interactivity of digital media is unparalleled.
Having Something in Common
Everyone has a special passion or pastime. You may also be involved in online book clubs, movie/TV series discussion forums, fashion/science discussion boards, etc., where you might meet people with similar interests.
With the help of social media, it’s possible to find and establish relationships with thousands of people all over the world who have a common interest with you. You can join a community where everyone has similar goals and interests.
Through the interconnectedness of online communities, it provides a sense of belonging even to those in geographically isolated locations.
For young people, social media may be a place of acceptance; for communities of like-minded people, it can be a place to grow together and learn from one another.
News is more Accessible Now
The world has become much more accessible as a result of improved means of communication, especially since news can circle the globe in a matter of seconds.
Eyewitnesses can now report on breaking news as it happens, thanks to the rapid dissemination of information made possible by social media. That means we can skip the part where we have to wait for reporters and journalists to be sent to the scene of the crime.
Some of you may be skeptical about this development given the prevalence of fake news on the web. However, social media platforms are working to address this issue as well, by identifying false content and linking readers to more reliable resources.
Users who blindly believe everything they read online are to blame, not social media itself.
Negative Impact of Social Media
Since we have shared the positive impacts of social media, let’s take a look at some of its negative impacts as well.
FOMO and Addiction to Social Media
Fear of missing out (FOMO) is nothing new, but it seems to be amplified by social media sites like Facebook and Instagram since they provide the impression that everyone else is having a great time.
Anxiety, low self-esteem, and even more time spent on social media are all side effects of feeling like you’re missing out on something.
FOMO can make you check your phone every few minutes for updates or compulsively reply to each alert, even if doing so causes you to ignore real-world concerns like driving too fast or not getting enough sleep.
Cyberbullying
Before the birth of the internet, bullying could only take place in person. However, cyberbullying is now possible, either under a false identity or not. The effects of cyberbullying have become widely publicized in recent years.
Although social media makes it less difficult to meet new people and create friends, it also makes it simpler for mean people to criticize others. Bullies can hide behind the anonymity of social networks to victimize their victims before their peers.
The psychological damage caused by cyber bullying can be severe, and in some circumstances, it can even lead to self-harm or suicide. It turns out that adults can also be victims of cyberbullying. Online bullying and harassment can affect people of any age.
Fake News
The term “fake news” has entered the everyday vocabulary, and readers’ trust in even conventional news sources has been severely undermined as a result. Online information that is incorrect, misleading, or confusing can damage your business’s reputation, anger even your most devoted consumers, and put people off buying your goods and services.
In fact, even retail stores get affected by fake news. There are both in-store and independent review platforms to aid shoppers in making informed decisions. Many reviewers’ experiences on these sites are accurate, but some are not. It is not uncommon for fake reviews to be posted online, either praising or slamming a company.
All in All
There are numerous positive effects of social media on society, including better communication and easier access to knowledge. However, it has also resulted in several negative side effects that can’t be overlooked.
Knowing about these drawbacks and working to lessen them will lead to better social media use. We should all make an effort to utilize social media in a way that benefits mental health and society as a whole.
